Deregulated New Zealand Media: Economic Efficiency and Foreign Ownership

During the period from 1984 to 1994 New Zealand experienced a radical change in economic and social policy under the leadership of the fourth Labour and National governments. Beginning with the devaluation of the New Zealand dollar by Lange’s fledgling Labour government on 18 July 1984, and ending with Finance Minister Ruth Richardson pushing the Fiscal Responsibility Act through the Bolger led National government before being dismissed, the economic and social responsibilities of New Zealand’s government changed completely. Everything from the lowering of trade barriers, to the floating of the New Zealand dollar, to the overhaul of labour relations has had an important impact on life in New Zealand. Sectors such as communications and commercial airline travel have been privatised and/or deregulated, and the economic and consumer landscape is essentially transformed now at the beginning of the 21st century. One important area of the New Zealand economy that has seen a great de...